Amanda Chunco
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies
Department: Environmental Studies
Email: achunco@elon.edu
Phone number: (336) 278-6275
Brief Biography
For more information about my research and teaching, please see my website at:
Links
News & Notes
Education
2009 Ph.D. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Biology
2000 B.S. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, Zoology, minor Anthropology
Courses Taught
Introduction to Environmental Science (ENS 1110)
Wildlife Ecology and Management (ENS 1750)
Elon College Fellows Paths of Inquiry (ECF 1110)
Elon College Fellows Sophomore Seminar (ECF 2120)
Elon College Fellows Junior Seminar (ECF 3120)
Re-Writing Climate Change (HNR 2360)
Strategies in Environmental Inquiry (ENS 2000)
Diversity of Life (ENS 2150)
Wildlife Ecology (ENS 3300)
Biogeography and Conservation (ENS 3310)
Deep Time to the Anthropocene (COR 3711)
Research
Biologists and naturalists since Darwin have noticed that patterns in a species’ distribution can reveal important information about the ecology and evolution of that species. Since early in human history, people have had a strong influence on species distributions. This is more of an issue today than at any point in history, as anthropogenic climate change, land use conversions, and species invasions are reshaping biological communities across the globe. My work uses field surveys, experiments, and computer modeling to understand the ecological and evolutionary forces underlying species distributions, with the end goal of aiding conservation efforts to preserve rare and endangered species.
I encourage undergraduate students interested in research in wildlife ecology, conservation biology, or biogeography to contact me. I am happy to advise students who wish to pursue field work, GIS modeling, or a combination of both!
Publications
Gould, E., Fraser, H. S., Parker, T. H. et al. 2025. Same data, different analysts: variation in effect sizes due to analytical decisions in ecology and evolutionary biology. BMC Biology 23, 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-024-02101-x
Chunco, A. J., Nault, E.*, Silverman, R. F.*, Midolo, S.*, Harper, H.*, Rice, A. M. 2024. Population isolation in the Plains spadefoot toad: Causes and conservation implications. PeerJ 12:e17968 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17968.
Chunco, A. J., Thomas-Laemont P. 2022. Is it hot in here or is it me? The Evolutionary Conundrum of Menopause. National Science Teaching Association. https://www.nsta.org/ncss-case-study/it-hot-here-or-it-just-me-0
Archis, J. N.*, Akcali, C., Stuart, B. L., Kikuchi, D., Chunco, A. J. 2018. Is the future already here? The impact of climate change on the distribution of the eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius). PeerJ 6:e4647; https://doi,org/10.7717/peerj.4647.
Chunco, A. J., Uno, J. K. 2016. Are we too clean? National Center for Case Study Teaching in the Sciences. Available here: https://www.nsta.org/ncss-case-study/are-we-too-clean
Didion, J., Pardo-Manuel de Villena, F. et al. 2016. A selfish genetic element drives recurring selective sweeps in the house mouse. Molecular Biology and Evolution 33: 1381-1395.
Chunco, A. J. 2014. Hybridization in a warmer world. Ecology and Evolution 4: 2019-2031.
Chunco, A. J., Phimmachak, S., Sivongxay, N., Stuart, B. L. 2013. Predicting environmental suitability for a rare and threatened species (Lao Newt, Laotriton laoensis) using validated species distribution models. PLoS One: e59853.
Chunco, A. J., Jobe, T., and Pfenning, K. S. 2012. Why do species co-occur? A test of alternative hypotheses describing abiotic differences in sympatry versus allopatry using spadefoot toads. PlosOne 7:e32748.
Angert, A. L., Crozier, L., Rissler, L., Gilman, S., Tewksbury, J., and Chunco, A. J. 2011. Species’ traits weakly predict recent range shifts. Ecology Letters 14: 677-689.
Chunco, A. J., McKinnon, J., Servedio, M. R. 2007. Microhabitat variation and sexual selection can maintain male color polymorphisms. Evolution 61: 2504-2515.
Pfennig, K. S., Chunco, A. J., and Reynolds, A.C. 2007. Ecological selection and hybrid fitness: hybrids succeed on parental resources. Evol. Ecol. Res. 9:341-354.
Burkhead, N. M., Jelks, H. L., Chunco, A., Walsh, S.J., Freeman, B.J., Skelton, C.E. and Freeman, M. 2001. Progress report of benthic fishes in the Upper Coosa River System, North Georgia. USGS Interim Report. 41 pp.
Burgess, G. H., Chunco, A., Nadik, W. and Johnson, S. 2000. Pelagic Elasmobranch Bibliography. International Pelagic Shark Workshop, Pacific Grove, California. 38 pp.